Montgomery All-Stater Megan Lydzinski to miss Meet of Champions with a broken arm

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerMontgomery All-Stater Megan Lydzinski, a six-time Meet of Champions winner and one of the top seeds for this weekend's meet in both freestyle sprints, will miss the meet after suffering a broken arm in gym class last week.

Sorry to bring you this news, but Montgomery's Megan Lydzinski emailed me the other day to appraise me of her unfortunate situation.

Lydzinski, a Princeton-bound senior and owner of six NJSIAA Meet of Champions titles (three individual, three relay), broke her arm in gym class last week while playing ``speed ball,'' which Lydzinksi said is like Ultimate Frisbee with a ball.

It's a tough break (no pun intended) for one of the most humble and enjoyable young ladies I've had the opportunity to interview.

Lydzinski will be in a cast for three weeks. The case is water-tolerant so she can get in the pool to kick, but it restricts her stroke motion so she can't race until her three weeks are up.

It was a major blow to a girl who was aiming to end her high school career on top of the podium once more this weekend. She was seeded third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.59) and third in the 100 free (51.18).

Her 100 time is the fastest high school time in the state this season, and her 50 time is third, behind Westfield's Caroline Baldwin (23.20) and Kent Place's Jenna Immormino (23.57).

Now get this. Lydzinski emailed me so I would know of her situation and be able to -- in her words -- focus on the remaining contenders. Incredibly considerate.

``I was really disappointed,'' Lydzinski said. ``I felt ready for the meet this weekend. I really felt I could win one more time. Once the doctor told me I had to wear a cast, it took me a few minutes to get over the sadness, but I think I've handled it pretty well.''

Lydzinski said she asked about racing without the cast for one more weekend, but her doctor told her it could cause severe and permanent damage, which could ruin her opportunity to swim at Princeton next season.

``I had to make the right choice. I have to think of my future,'' Lydzinski said. ``I'm happy with the impact I made at Montgomery. I'm really glad I could end my season by helping win the county title and make Montgomery history.''

Lydzinski said once the cast comes off in March, she will consider heading out to Indianapolis to compete in a Grand Prix meet.

Lydzinski splashed on the scene as a freshman and did not lose a 50 or 100 free race for her first two years. As a freshman she won the M of C 50 title and fueled all three relays, each of which finished first in meet-record time.

As a sophomore she swept the M of C sprints, including a meet-record 50.40 in the 100 free.

Last season she finished third in the 50 free and second in the 100 free.

This season, she helped Montgomery secure its first unbeaten regular season dual meet record, and its first Somerset County title.